Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1530610
DECEMBER 2024 I PCB007 MAGAZINE 75 A significant success in a demanding mar- ket, such as high reliability, makes it a lot easier to gain board acceptance. Our goal is to work with those target companies on their next-gen- eration designs. Is anyone currently using the material in beta test? Lake: Yes. At least one high-reliability cus- tomer is testing this material as a bonding film to establish design guidelines for future builds. It will be UHDI for IC substrates or interpos- ers, which to me, are the same thing said dif- ferently. ere's interest in using the material to encapsulate embedded active components, something that NAMICS has extensive experi- ence with. is material was originally created for encapsulation, but its adhesion properties make it versatile. Today is a turning point because all the sam- ple packs are set up and ready to ship in the U.S. Now, it's time to start pushing hard into the market. e two markets are the bond films for IC substrate/interposers, which was a hot topic with everyone at SMTAI, and the rigid-flex market, because it supports a rigid-flex buildup or cavity board buildup well. Have you made boards with this yet? Araujo: Yes. We have collaborated with sev- eral different companies to create test boards, all of which have been very successful. e key is finding the right partnerships, and I believe we've identified those that will help this mate- rial gain traction in the market. Where are the products made? Araujo: All the products are designed and manufactured in Niigata, Japan. However, NAMICS Technologies Inc. is a U.S. company. We have a warehouse in Carson City, Nevada, ensuring seamless delivery within the U.S. e consistency and quality of our product from our Japanese factory is world-class. NAMICS is still a privately held, family- owned, third-generation company that con- sistently invests back into the company toward continued growth. It's good that NAMICS is a strong, stable company with organic growth and top-notch consistency and quality. Of course, advanced products cost a little more, but as this mate- rial is adapted for use in PCB fabrication, what is the price comparison? Araujo: Advanced technology low-loss mate- rial has a higher price point but will be priced competitively. Overall, the added costs are minimal when considering the total value since you don't need to change your manufacturing process or invest in new equipment. Typically, process changes drive costs up. e ability to use existing infrastructure makes adoption of this material easier and cost-effective. Some of the fabricators in the U.S. are old school and resistant to change. How do you work with that? Araujo: We're not trying to reinvent the wheel. We're trying to solve a problem. We sell adhe- sives and films, but what we are really offering Ken Araujo